About ACTFL

Edwin Cudecki Award

The ACTFL Edwin Cudecki Award for Support for Language Education

The Edwin Cudecki Award recognizes both a person and a phenomenon. Edwin Cudecki's active professional life was characterized by the promotion of stronger ties between foreign language education and the constituencies from which it draws its support and which it serves. As Director of Foreign Languages for the Chicago Public Schools, he devoted his life to fostering collaboration and building a strong foundation for the support of foreign language education, both locally and nationally.

The ACTFL Edwin Cudecki International Business Award was established in 1987 to recognize individuals who have developed ties between international business, language education, and international studies with the support of the Illinois Foreign Language Teachers Association (IFLTA), the International Business Council MidAmerica (IBCM), and the Illinois Ethnic Consultation (IEC).

In 2005, the ACTFL Board of Directors voted to change the name of the award in order to broaden the scope of possible recipients. It was decided that this award would be made by the ACTFL Board of Directors.